Wiggle-isms

Wiggles is at the age where she says the most adorable things!  I need to get better at writing them down - but here are a few of them lately:

~Refers to the 'big toe' as the "Thumb Toe" (and other variations on this theme; once called her ankle her 'foot wrist')
~Accidentally mixes words, such as "I'm pick-up-ing" instead of 'picking up'
~When I'm singing a song she doesn't know, she tries to sing along, matching my pitch and trying to anticipate what word I'm going to say (which is hilarious!)
~Insists that things are exactly as she perceives them or wishes them to be - I am constantly having to remind the older children to simply say "You're entitled to your own opinion" rather than engage in arguments over what is right/wrong.  For example, she'll insist "No, that's not a peach, it's a nectarine!!!!" pointing to what is, in fact, a peach.  This drives the older 2 crazy - and is a good test in patience for us all - but is also quite entertaining!

Our Wiggles brings such love and laughter into our family and home!  Every day with her is a blessing!

Menu Plan Monday

Our internet is acting up and for some reason I only have it on our laptop which does not have my photos - so my posts will be picture-less until Time Warner Cable gets things sorted out.

In the meantime, here's what's cooking this week:  (Notice Angel and Grins have recently become enthralled with making recipes from the Friend magazine -which I fully support, since it gets them excited about cooking and I get a little help in the kitchen!)  Maybe I'll post some pictures of their creations...

Sunday - Peanut coconut tofu stir fry, butterfly salad a la Grins (Friend), Fruit sushi a la Angel (Friend)
Monday - Cauliflower crust caprese pizza (a new favorite thanks to Hannah), kale chips, fruit kabobs (Friend), Vanilla bean cake for FHE treat
Tuesday - Zucchini boats, tossed green salad, cheerful banana salad (Friend), homemade potato chips (Friend)
Wednesday - Cauliflower alfredo, steamed cabbage, pineapple
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - BBQ with friends

May, Miscellaneous

Rainy May was a month of art projects.  Here are just a few:

It's difficult to see very well, but this is Wiggles' first ever smiley face!  Actually, her first real picture.  She has always refused to draw or write (the perfectionist in her can't seem to bear getting it less than perfect), and usually asks me to color for her.  But somehow the whiteboard easel and marker were simply too enticing to resist.  I ran downstairs and came up, surprised to find a little smiling creature doodled on the board.  I'm not sure who was more proud; Wiggles, or me.

Angel, ever the artist, convinced me one day to let her play with the costume makeup.  She started with a crown....then added a rainbow....and finally had to add freckles, of course.

This is a fair example of why my house never seems to be clean.  I set up a project for Wiggles to work on while I clean - and then return to find a bigger mess!  Though frustrating at times, her sweet, little self more than makes up for any fingerprints on the wall!  I value my childrens' creativity far more than a clean house!!

She decided to paint herself, rather than the paper!

Mother's Day on Mackworth

When the Mr. asked what I wanted to do for Mother's Day, I said "Rest and watch the children play".  Being such a beautiful day, we decided to do that on Mackworth island.  Hannah and I rested on the beach while watching the children enjoy the beautiful nature on the island.  It truly was heaven!  I was too busy resting to get many good pictures, but here are a few:

Wiggles was repulsed - but also intrigued - by a small, dead crab she found on the beach.

She insisted on wearing her snow boots....funny girl!

These two are the best of friends (most of the time!)

Memorial Day at Kettle Cove

My wonderful sister has joined us for the summer!  It is such a delight having her, and we are enjoying every minute!  Memorial Day was beautiful and bright, so we decided to head to one of our favorite beaches, Kettle Cove. 

Wiggles did so well holding onto the kite!

These two always dive right in, no matter the water's temperature!

Wiggles and Hannah were a bit more cautious due to the cold water!

Wiggles was even cold out of the water!

Someone has to get buried every time we go to the beach! 

Grins decided to check out the tide pools with a friend!

This photo is completely unedited, but I personally love the way it turned out.  Wiggles' bathing suit was bothering her, so she kept putting the straps down and I had to snap a shot!  It was hilarious!

The beach wore Wiggles out - this is her on the way home.

On the way home, we stopped by Len Libby's to show Hannah the Chocolate Moose.  Wiggles didn't even wake up for that!  It was funny - when she woke up the next morning, she said, "Oh no!  We never saw the chocolate moose!"  When we insisted that we had, but she'd slept through it, she was devastated!

T-ball

We haven't had much time for blogging these past 2 months, what with the end of school and start of summer vacation, 4 different groups of house guests, and the beautiful weather pulling us outside...so we'll attempt to catch up now that things have calmed down a bit (for now).

This was the first year our family has participate in organized sports.  I've put it off until now, not wanting to make yet another time commitment to detract from our limited family time.  But Grins, it seems, was BORN to play sports.  It runs in his veins.  I finally realized that me playing catcher, first-baseman, second-baseman, third-baseman and short stop while he was up for bat was no longer cutting it, and decided that he might benefit from playing on an actual team.  And did he ever love it!  He is definitely a natural.  I'll admit that I'm biased, but hearing other parents say "Wow!  That kid has got an arm!" or "Oh wow - what a hit!" confirmed that he does seem to have found his 'thing'.  Angel played too and seemed to enjoy it as well, though she would probably have preferred to play on the playground if she'd had her choice.  And Wiggles was such a good sport, patiently watching from the sidelines with me.

Our team was "B & G Commercial Sweeping", in the Deering Little League.  Our coaches were wonderfully patient and kind, and the atmosphere was geared much more toward learning and much less toward competition, which was perfect!

Deering Little League hosts a parade to kick off the season:

Grins at bat:

He took it very seriously:

And occasionally may have tried to show off a bit....

I was so proud of Angel!  T-ball (and sports in general) doesn't come naturally to her, and she was quite nervous initially.  She really overcame her insecurities and got out there and gave it her best, even when she would have rather been playing, or reading on the sidelines with me and Wiggles.  And she improved a lot due to her courage and efforts!

Grins running a home run.

The line up....Angel's first

Grins as catcher

Angel in the outfield

Grins makes the funniest faces when he's focused!

My favorite part of the whole season was the last game!  The weather was cold and cloudy and threatening to rain, but our stalwart team braved the weather, not wanting to miss our last game of the season! (They don't reschedule games in T-ball, apparently).  We all showed up and waited, and waited....and the other team never showed up!  We assume the game may have been cancelled but we hadn't been notified - but we decided to go out with a bang, with a Parents vs. B&G game.  It could not have been more fun!  The kids were of course thrilled to see me up to bat (and seemed a bit too eager to try to get me out) - and the Mr. even showed up before the game was through and got to participate as well!

Both kiddos in action!

Coach up to bat - note Angel as short stop in her "ready" pose (bent over).  Grins is in front of her.

Parents in the outfield with Angel on first.

The Mr. takes a turn.

Sweet Wiggles, ever so patient on the sidelines.

Wiggles finally got to participate a little (though she shied away from batting during the game)

Wiggles patiently sat on the bench with her glove on, waiting for her turn to play...

And finally just decided to stretch out and relax.

The line up for high-5s at the end:

2-4-6-8-Who do we appreciate? B & G!!!

Angel finally gets her wish - playground time! :)

A great season!  We are already looking forward to next year!